Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Deirdre York of Resources Real Estate

Red Bank, NJ - Resources Real Estate’s Red Bank office will serve as one of the venues for Red Bank Art Walk on Friday, May 17^th. The exhibit will feature Robert O’Connor, video artist and painter who lives and works in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. Robert has created a special exhibit to showcase exclusively at Resources Real Estate for the Red Bank Art Walk. Robert's exhibit is expected to be an enormous hit!

“Resources Real Estate is a great supporter of local artists and we’re excited to showcase Robert’s art,” said Carolynn Ozar Diakon, senior partner and broker of the company.

“Robert's work has been exhibited nationally as well as internationally and we thrilled to unveil his display on May 17th,” said Thomas McCormack, managing partner and broker.

Resources Real Estate’s new location at 4A West Front Street (at the intersection of Broad Street) is the company’s third in addition to its flagship office in Rumson and a branch office in Monmouth Beach which, after having sustained significant storm damage, was the first business to re-open in Monmouth Beach post-storm.

The hours of the exhibition will be 6:00pm – 10:00pm and is open to the public.

About Resources Real Estate

Resources Real Estate is a full service independent residential brokerage opened by Carolynn Ozar-Diakon in 2000. Thomas McCormack, with the company since 2002, joined her as a partner in 2010. Resources Real Estate is located at 112 East River Road in Rumson, 36 Beach Road in Monmouth Beach and 4A West Front Street in Red Bank. For more local real estate information or to inquire about a career in real estate, you can call 732-212-0440 or visitresourcesrealestate.com.

Courtesy of Clayton & Clayton Realtors

It may be winter, but this is the time when many rent their summer vacation homes. As CBS 2’s Alice Gainer reported, those looking to rent at the Jersey Shore will face some challenges post-Superstorm Sandy. Interviews local Realtor, Shawn Clayton which happens to be the broker of Clayton & Clayton Realtors in Bay Head.

We are down about 30 to 40 percent of their normal inventory, because some homeowners are opting to stay and help rebuild. They said, though, that some of their homes might not be repaired right now, they will be by the summer.

“Don’t be discouraged,” said Shawn Clayton. “You could go between now and the summertime and you might be able to get a better deal.”

For the interview please visit: Summer Rentals / Real Estate Market

By Judy Sweetland, Villa Specialist with Private Trade Winds

The buzz was palpable at the Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas last month as well as the Luxury Real Estate Conference in October, with several inquiries being addressed on Villa Travel.

Individuals of high net worth require space, privacy and security which Villas provide on a deeper level in contrast to hotel suites.

In tandem, service and amenities were ranked of equally high importance. Listed in no particular order were daily housekeeping, chef and concierge service, babysitting and roundtrip airport transportation. Top amenities required include high-end beds and linens, spa robes and luxurious bath amenities.

Technology is essential to the affluent traveler and staying in touch while on vacation is of top concern. Flat Panel satellite HDTVs along with wireless internet are a must, and other conveniences such as iPads and iPod docking stations are also becoming an expected amenity.

In response to luxury Travel Agents, and Real Estate Agents & Developers piqued interest in Villa Travel, Private Trade Winds has collaborated with The Travel Institute in writing the first Villa Certification Course. A free webinar with more information on the course will be offered January 19 at 12:00 p.m. PST. Anyone interested in further exploring this growing specialized niche of the Travel industry can register for the free webinar at http://thetravelinstitute.com/training-resources/webinars/. At the end of the webinar Private Trade Winds will raffle a 3-night stay at our 3 Bed/3 Bath Condo on the Greens at PGA West in La Quinta, California. The winner must be on the line when their name is drawn and announced.

Our partner, 3RD HOME, is offering a free membership into their luxury second homeowners club for Luxury Real Estate clients. 3RD HOME, an exclusive private club for luxury second homeowners allows members to exchange time in their home for weeks at other properties located in over 55 countries. This luxury home exchange creates greater value for the second homeowner by not only getting more use of their vacation home but also being able to travel anywhere in the world staying in 5-star properties, without paying rent!

How does this program work? 3RD HOME offers a simple and easy online process that allows a second homeowner to join in minutes. The guidelines are simple for membership. The homeowner must have a second home worth over $750,000 in a desirable location, if so; membership into the club is almost complete. Through the Luxury Real Estate partnership a client’s 2-year membership fee of $495 will be waived compliments of Luxury Real Estate! Once the client is a member, with a completed profile, all they need to do to get started is deposit one desirable week at their property to earn keys and start traveling. 3RD HOME uses an easy key exchange process based off the value of the client’s home. If the client has a home worth $500,000 - $1,000,000 they will receive one key for every week they deposit with the largest number of keys being five, for second homes worth over $4,000,000. As a member you gain the ability to travel all over the world, book a week vacation for a fee of just $495.

If this is an opportunity that interests you or if you have further questions, please contact Lauren at Lauren@3rdhome.com or call (615) 810-8403 to get started. To learn more about 3RD HOME and the luxury exchange program you can also visit www.3rdhome.com.

By Judy Sweetland, Villa Specialist with Private Trade Winds

I just read an article titled, “What Airline Do Your Clients Hate The Most?” by George Dooley. It was well-written, interesting and informative, and referenced a report from Amplicate.com, an online consumer research firm that tracks public opinion. The report found that 57% of comments regarding U.S. airlines from social media users over the last 12 months were negative, citing poor customer service, cancelled flights and difficult booking procedures as their frustration.

That sounds about right to me. As a frequent traveler myself I’ve experienced many unsettling situations. While the report from Amplicate.com is a bit dismal, I would like to throw out a lifeline, and make the road most traveled a lot less bumpy. But, I’ll get to that shortly.

Does anyone out there remember when air travel fun? Come on Baby Boomers, I’m talking to you. People would get all dressed up and it was très chic to fly. Customer Service was an action not a Department, and we couldn’t wait to take off and ‘Fly the Friendly Skies.’ ABC has just released a show in their Fall lineup called Pan Am, it’s a period drama set in the ‘60s about the pilots and stewardesses (aka flight attendants for Gen X’ers), who once made Pan Am the most glamorous way to fly. Without giving my exact age, I’m happy to say I remember those days.

So, what happened? Somewhere along the way the friendly skies turned dark and flying became dreaded rather than desired. There are many factors to blame, but I want to focus on one in particular. Could this lack of service, in an otherwise service-oriented industry, have something to do with book-it-yourself online systems, and the absence of human interaction when planning our travel?

I realize we’ve come a long way since the ‘60s, and the white-gloved glamour is no longer necessary. Flying is just another mode of transportation, like jumping into a cab in New York City. But maybe we’ve gotten a little too relaxed about jet-setting around the world with only the powers of cyberspace to save us.

Maybe the television networks should consider a series about Travel Agents. They wouldn’t have to reach back into the historical archives of the Smithsonian to find information they could just pick up a telephone. Modern Travel Agencies have been around since the second half of the 19^thcentury and have weathered depressions, recessions and the internet boom - and they’re still here. Private Trade Winds is happy to be counted among one of them. Can a Travel Agent prevent a flight from being cancelled? No. But we’re definitely who you would want on speed dial when something happens. Travel Agents streamline the process by taking on the arduous task of dealing with airlines and sitting on hold for hours on end so you don't have to. Booking travel is a great responsibility, and for the best outcome, should always be left to the professionals. To better serve the traveler Private Trade Winds can even handle ground, villa, hotel, cruise and Concierge needs. We want to put the enchantment back in travel.

How has a Travel Agent saved your trip? What problems have you encountered by booking online? As a Travel Industry Professional I would love to hear your comments. Email me at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com or call 949.764.9388 to share your story.

Courtesy of Luxury Villa Collections

Although we still feel the summer heat with hot sunny days of 35ºC (95 F), October has come to Cabo San Lucas, and with it the exciting and busy season. October is that time of year in Cabo, when we have The Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament, when Sammy Hagar celebrates his birthday at Cabo Wabo (which has almost become a tourist landmark in town), and when the notorious and traditional 13th Pimp N’Ho party is on.

Bisbee’s yearly organizes three tournaments, starting the season off in July at the East Cape (Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament), then followed by a Bisbee’s Los Cabos Tournament on October 14-18, and Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournamenton October 18-22.

Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament is the most awaited sport fishing event in Cabo San Lucas, and we could also say worldwide. The winnings are high, the entertainment is great, there is a charity note, accompanying events and well known Cabo fun! Even if you are not a fisherman or not participating at the tournament, the Bisbee’s is attractive to watch for the high adrenaline and big catches that the fisherman bring in. We are talking about 500 lb fish and higher. Here is your chance for a great “Kodak moment”.

Hopefully this year Bisbee’s Los Cabos and Black and Blue Marlin Tournament will break some new records. At the 12th annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament, Chucky VanWormer and his fellow anglers aboard La Hielera set a new record by weighing a 557 lb blue marlin. The fish was landed after a short fight and was the only billfish scaled during the first day of competition.

Click here to see the 2011 Los Cabos Schedule of Events

If you are a Bisbee’s participant or are coming to Los Cabos to enjoy some of our traditional Cabo San Lucas October fun, contact us for the best Cabo San Lucas villa and condominiums rentals. Email us at info@luxuryvillacollections.com or call us at: USA Toll Free: 888-264-1827, USA: 619-819-6178, or Mexico: 624-105-9100.

Courtesy of Luxury Villa Collections

The Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau today announced that Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón has officially selected Los Cabos as the host city for the 2012 G20 Summit, which will be held in June 2012. The President made the announcement at a press conference held in Mexico last Thursday. The destination’s first-class hotel and airport infrastructure were noted as two important factors in the decision.

“Los Cabos is extremely proud and honored to be selected as the official host city for the G20 Summit as this is an incredible opportunity for our destination as well as for the country of Mexico,” says Gonzalo Franyutti, President of the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Los Cabos has the exclusive appeal, a contemporary tourism infrastructure and the safety record required to host an event of this global caliber. As a haven for VIPs throughout the world, Los Cabos is truly the ‘Window to the World’ for Mexico. We look forward to welcoming the G20 delegates and attendees to our destination.”

With 13,000 total rooms in the destination, Los Cabos will dedicate 11,000 rooms to the G20 Summit to accommodate the more than 7,000 attendees, while the Mexican government will invest more than $47,000,000 into the development and promotion of the Summit.

In addition, a new 653,400 square foot Convention Center will house the G20 meetings and events. Designed to accommodate over 6,000 people, the Convention Center represents $100,000,000 investment by the federal government and a $1,500,000 investment from the State of Baja California Sur. The municipality of Los Cabos endowed a 15-acre tract of land which is located alongside a private golf community and boasts magnificent views for the building of the Convention Center, and the Los Cabos Tourism Board has also invested almost $1,000,000 in the project. The Convention Center will be designated a “green” facility, and will be designed with energy efficiency in mind and will be equipped with solar panels. Construction of the center is set to begin during the first week of November.

About Los Cabos: Located at the tip of the 1,000-mile long Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is home to award-winning hotels and resorts, championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas, world-class sport fishing and much more. With a unique landscape of dramatic desert and white sand beaches, Los Cabos is an exotic escape within easy reach of most U.S. cities.

About the G20: The G20 was originally established in 1999, in the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, to bring together major advanced and emerging economies to stabilize the global financial market. To tackle the economic crisis that spread throughout the world in 2008, the G20 members were called upon to further strengthen international cooperation. G20 Summits have been held in Washington in 2008, in London and Pittsburgh in 2009, in Toronto and Seoul in 2010 and this year, the G20 will take place in Cannes, France on November 3 – 4.

To reserve your stay in Los Cabos during the G20 Summit, please contact us at Luxury Villa Collections. We’d be glad to help you organize your stay. Email us at info@luxuryvillacollections.com or call us at: USA Toll Free: 888-264-1827, USA: 619-819-6178, or Mexico: 624-105-9100.

Information: via Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau
The photograph of Cabo San Lucas Land’s End: LA76 Photography.

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

If you’re a regular Private Trade Winds blog reader or if you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, then you’re probably already aware of our new “Spotlight Destination” promotion. The promotion launched in June with our Spotlight shining on Hawaii where we featured villas on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The weeks following brought us to the coastal communities and wine country of South Africa; the desert, mountains and beaches of California; and lastly the laid-back beauty of Mexico! It’s been a blast, and I’m happy to report that people are loving it!

Each week we’re shining our Spotlight on a new destination which will be announced on our blog, facebook and Twitter. Don’t worry, if social media isn’t your thing you can also email jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com and let us know that you would like to receive our weekly Spotlight Destination announcement in your email.

So, what’s it all about? In the interest of full disclosure – we want to spoil you! We’re giving you the opportunity to travel like a Private Trade Winds client. It’s our version of a try before you buy program. Just book any villa featured in our weekly Spotlight Destination and you will receive all the value added inclusions normally reserved for clients of Private Trade Winds. That would be services like daily housekeeping and roundtrip airport transportation; the personal assistance of our dedicated Travel Advisors and Concierge for all your air and ground transportation, and a welcome gift will be waiting for you at your chosen destination, along with something special from Private Trade Winds to make your trip more enjoyable. It could be a decadent spa treatment, a round of golf or perhaps a personal chef credit. Each destination has its own unique offering which is gifted to you by Private Trade Winds. Other amenities await your arrival like luxurious spa robes, high-end bath amenities, and bottled water and coffee replenished daily.

Why are we doing this? We’re giving you the opportunity to try before you buy. We’re confident that once you take your first Private Trade Winds Villa Vacation you won’t want to travel any other way. So be sure to check in daily on our blog, and follow us on facebook and twitter to see where our Spotlight will be shining next. Remember you can also email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com or call 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 804 to receive your announcements and updates. Spoiler Alert - this week . . . Costa Rica!

Courtesy of Jay Gould of Vail Valley Getaway

To most, vacations are a sacred and coveted time that must be filled with enough fun and excitement to make the rest of the year bearable. The key is to find that perfect escape, one that takes you away from the mundane yet still provides access to entertainment and activities with a luxurious resort appeal.

Luckily there’s Vail Valley Getaway to fill such a tall order. More than a resort property management company, this full service vacation planner offers concierge services in addition to a variety of lavish accommodations featuring privately owned condos and residences in the most celebrated Beaver Creek and Vail communities.

Now you can experience the Vail Valley how the other half lives, by staying in a private, luxury mountain retreat rather than booking a traditional resort hotel room. With Vail Valley Getaway, your vacation “home base” is a truly exquisite home with exclusive services that make the most of precious vacation time. Enlist the expertise of informed specialists to handle details like transportation, grocery shopping, housekeeping, even babysitting.

Year round, the knowledgeable and friendly staff is ready to assist in planning a fun-filled trip that is both relaxing and rejuvenating. The rental management team provides an uncompromising standard of excellence to both property owners and guests, embracing a unique opportunity to care for and represent some of the finest homes in the Vail Valley.

Customer reviews from TripAdvisor and Flipkey awarded Vail Valley Getaway an “Excellent Rating” with 5 stars

proving their commitment to excellence in guest satisfaction.

Summer or winter, family vacations or romantic getaways, they should be filled with unforgettable adventures and accommodations, award-winning cuisine, one-of-a-kind galleries, elegant boutiques and spa treatments. From internationally renowned skiing and snow sports, to tube rides for the kid in all of us, to championship golf, horseback riding, rafting, hiking, and gold-medal fly-fishing, let Vail Valley Getaway plan a trip that will raise the vacation bar for years to come.

If you would like more information or to schedule an interview with Jay Gould, please contact Michelle Parenti at 626.833.5015 or email info@vailvalleygetaway.com for additional information and photography.

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

Private Trade Winds, in conjunction with The Travel Institute is proud to announce the release of the first Villa Certification Program. The course, called Villa Travel, was designed to equip travel agents with the knowledge and tools necessary to assist clients who prefer spacious accommodations, yet value the service and amenities typically found in 5-star resorts. No longer is villa travel reserved for Counts and Countesses on mass vineyards in Tuscany. Of course, the classic villas of France and Italy are still highly sought-after destinations, and rightly so, but what the public needs to know is that a villa can range from a 1-bedroom beachfront condo to a 13-bedroom palatial estate. What ultimately sets apart a villa vacation from a vacation rental involves an assessment of the destination, the residence, and all they have to offer. This is where the education process comes in, and it has all been crafted with the ultimate satisfaction of the traveler in mind.

In early May, the Today Show aired a segment on villa travel, and they went into detail on the rise in villa travel and the advantages therein. While we were delighted to see coverage on the subject, the segment began by defining villa as “any rental property or house.” It was this comment that prompted our immediate reaction, and we realized the urgent need to set parameters in this rapidly growing niche of the travel industry.

Our response, and what we feel is our duty as villa specialists, is to protect the consumer by educating the travel industry, and safeguarding the traveler against the pitfalls of misrepresentation in an otherwise unregulated segment of travel.

Today's discerning traveler can have it all - daily housekeeping, airport transportation, concierge service and more - without sacrificing comfort, security and luxury. The key factor is educating both travel agents as well as the consumer on the various options that are out there, and most importantly, how to appropriately match the villa with the vacationer.

The Villa Specialist course covers such subject matter as villa history, classic vs. modern villas, villa options, sales & marketing, accommodations, amenities & inclusions, and more. Upon completion of this comprehensive course, participants will be able to clearly differentiate a villa vacation from a vacation rental, and open doors to a whole new world of experiences for their client.

Real Estate Agents and Developers can benefit from taking this course as well, since they will want a better understanding of what the consumer is looking for in a villa rental, and they will have the opportunity learn how to choose their partnerships wisely when deciding who will represent their product in the industry.

An informational webinar will be conducted by The Travel Institute on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 12:00 PDT, where listeners can learn more about the course. To request an invitation, please email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com.

If you would like to learn more about villa travel, contact Andra Minnehan at 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 809 or email her at aminnehan@privatetradewinds.com.